Container for a Cosmetic Product, in Particular for a Stick of Cosmetic Product

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a container ( 10 ) for a cosmetic product, in particular for a stick of cosmetic product, including a body ( 20 ), and a cup ( 40 ) movable relative to the body ( 20 ). The cup ( 40 ) is capable of receiving the product. Said container includes a transparent part ( 34 ) having a first clear area ( 30 ) allowing the inside of the container ( 10 ) to be seen, and at least one second opaque area, referred to as the covered area ( 32 ).

The field of the invention is that of cosmetic product packaging. The invention relates more particularly to a container for a cosmetic product, in particular for a stick of cosmetic product, more particularly lipstick.

It is known to provide containers of this kind with a body, a mechanism for moving a cup relative to the body, said cup supporting a stick of cosmetic product. The movement mechanism is formed by the body and a guide that is mounted in said body. Said mechanism makes it possible to move the cup in order to retract the stick of cosmetic product inside the container or to extend it therefrom in order to make it accessible to a user wishing to apply make-up using said product.

Furthermore, it is known to close containers of this kind by means of a removable cap. Said cap makes it possible to protect the constituent parts of the container from a hostile external environment (dust, impacts). Said cap protects, inter alia, the mechanism for moving the cup, the cup, and the cosmetic product.

A number of solutions, such as the addition of metal or transparent parts, have been proposed for improving the aesthetic appearance of lipstick tubes. However, these solutions increase the cost of the container.

An aim of the invention is that of providing a solution that is aesthetically acceptable to the manufacturers of cosmetic products, while limiting the cost price.

The invention therefore relates to a container for a cosmetic product, in particular for a stick of cosmetic product, comprising a body and a cup that is movable relative to the body, the cup being suitable for receiving the product.

According to the invention, said container comprises a transparent part having a first bare region that makes it possible to see inside the container, and at least one second opaque region, referred to as the covered region.

The container according to the invention has the advantage that it is possible, using just one part, specifically the transparent part, to allow the user to benefit from the transparency provided by the bare region of said part, and from at least one different aesthetic effect provided by the covered region. Moreover, the covered region can also be used to conceal elements that appear unsightly to the user. A further advantage of the invention is that it is made possible to provide, from one standard part, a range of containers provided with a transparent region that is the same in the various containers in the range, and with a region having a different aesthetic effect that is specific to each container.

Advantageously, said container is designed to allow the product to occupy a position, in particular outside the body at least in part, in which the user can apply said product by handling said body.

According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

-   -   the covered region is a region that has undergone surface         treatment,     -   the covered region is a screen printed region,     -   the covered region is a hot stamped region,     -   the covered region is galvanised,     -   the covered region is a region comprising a thin strip of         substantially opaque material,     -   said thin strip of material is bonded to said transparent part,     -   the covered region is obtained by locally opacifying the         material of said transparent part,     -   the transparent part is hollow,     -   the transparent part is blind or a through-part,     -   the transparent part comprises an outer wall and an inner wall,     -   the covered region is located on the outer wall of said part,     -   the covered region is located on the inner wall of said part,     -   the transparent part is formed in one piece,     -   said body comprises said transparent part,     -   said container further comprises a cap designed to cover said         body, in particular by concealing said product and leaving said         transparent part visible,     -   said transparent part makes it possible to see the cup in a         position in which said cup is retracted inside the body,     -   the cup and the cosmetic product are the same colour,     -   the cup comprises two parts,     -   the cup comprises a first part, referred to as the lower cup,         that is designed to cooperate with an actuation mechanism, and a         second part, referred to as the upper cup, that is suitable for         receiving the product,     -   the lower and upper cups are removable from one another,     -   said two parts are connected and/or disconnected by means of         elastic deformation of a portion of one of the two parts by the         other part,     -   the lower and upper cups are connected and/or disconnected by         means of elastic deformation of a portion of the lower cup, and         respectively of the upper cup, by the upper cup, and         respectively the lower cup, in one or more directions tangential         to said upper cup, and respectively said lower cup,     -   said two parts are connected and/or disconnected by snapping a         portion projecting from the upper cup, and respectively from the         lower cup, into a hollow portion of the lower cup, and         respectively of the upper cup.

The invention will be better understood, and its other aims, details, features and advantages will become more clearly apparent in the detailed explanatory description that follows of at least one embodiment of the invention given as a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention, said container being shown in a first arrangement,

FIG. 2 shows the container from FIG. 1 in a second arrangement,

FIG. 3 shows the container from FIG. 2, covered by a cap.

The invention relates to a container 10 for a cosmetic product.

In this case, the cosmetic product is a stick of cosmetic product, for example a stick of lipstick (not shown).

The container according to the invention comprises a transparent part 34 comprising a first bare region 30 that makes it possible to see inside the container 10, and at least one second opaque region, referred to as the covered region 32. The first region 30 will be referred to as the bare region 30 throughout the remainder of the description.

The opaque region 32 makes it possible to provide an additional aesthetic effect compared with the region of said transparent part 34 that is left transparent. Said opaque region in addition makes it possible to conceal the inside of the container 10. Said region in particular makes it possible to conceal unsightly mechanical elements, such as an actuation mechanism that the container comprises.

Said opaque region 32 is rendered opaque after having undergone surface treatment, for example. Said region can be rendered opaque by means of screen printing, hot stamping, galvanising or metallising. It can also be rendered opaque by means of a thin strip of substantially opaque material bonded to the transparent part 34. These embodiments are not limiting, and any other known technical means of rendering opaque said opaque region 32 can be applied, as long as said means do not change the contour of the transparent part 34.

It is also important to note that the transparent part 34 can be hollow. It thus comprises an outer wall and an inner wall. Said covered region 32 is advantageously provided on the outer wall of said transparent part and/or on the inner wall thereof. The example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 shows a covered region 32 on the outer wall of the transparent part 34.

In a variant, covering the inner wall of said transparent part 34 has the advantage of providing the container 10 with a greater depth, in particular the depth corresponding to the thickness to the transparent part 34. This depth can contribute to improving the overall aesthetics of the container 10, without increasing the cost (embodiment not shown).

The transparent part 34 can be blind, as shown here, or a through-part. This is because the main function of said transparent part 34 is not necessarily to close the container 10 in a sealed manner, although this is possible.

Furthermore, the container 10 according to the invention extends in a main longitudinal extension direction, referred to as the main direction and shown schematically by the axis X in FIGS. 1 to 3. The container 10 thus has a first end, referred to as the distal end 12 of the container 10, and a second end, referred to as the proximal end 14 of the container 10. The distal end 12 is opposite the proximal end 14 in the main direction X.

The container 10 according to the invention further comprises a body 20.

The body 20 shown here has a substantially circular cross section. However, this in no way excludes bodies 20 having complex cross sections (polygonal, compound shapes having circular and straight portions, etc.) that are intended to receive sticks of lipstick having a similar cross section. Moreover, the distal end 12 of the container 10 is open in order to allow the product to pass through when said product occupies a position, in particular outside the body 20 at least in part, in which position the user can apply said product by handling said body 20 (see FIG. 1).

The container 10 according to the invention is therefore designed to allow the product to occupy a first position that is outside the body 20 at least in part, and in which position the user can apply said product by handling said body 20. FIG. 1 shows the container 10 in an arrangement that makes it possible for the product to occupy this first position.

In this case, the container 10 further comprises a cup 40 that is movable relative to the body 20. Furthermore, said cup 40 has a cross section that is similar to that of the body 20 in order to ensure that said cup is movable inside said body 20.

In the arrangement in FIG. 1, the cup 40 has been extended in part, relative to the body 20, in order to make it possible for the product which said container is suitable for containing to occupy said first position. In the following, the cup 40 will be referred to as occupying the high position thereof.

FIG. 2 shows the container 10 in an arrangement that allows the product to occupy a second position. In said second position, the product is retracted inside the body 20 at least in part. It can be seen in this figure that, in this arrangement, the cup 40 is completely retracted inside the container 10 in order to allow a free end of the product to thus be substantially in the region of the distal end 12 of the container 10. In the following, the cup will be referred to as occupying the low position thereof, which allows the cup 40 to be visible from the outside.

This is because the transparent part 34 is preferably provided so as to be located close to the proximal end 14 of the container 10. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the cup 40 is located close to said proximal end 14 when it is in the low position. Thus, when the cup 40 occupies the low position thereof, it is visible from the outside due to the transparency of the bare region 30 of the transparent part 34.

In this variant, one of the functions of the bare region 30 is to make the cup 40 visible to users.

It should be noted that the container 10 furthermore comprises a mechanism for moving the cup 40, referred to as the actuation mechanism of the container 10 (not shown here). This actuation mechanism is designed to cause the movement of the cup 40 relative to the body 20.

This actuation mechanism, which is often considered unsightly, is concealed if desired, and the opaque region 32 is provided for this purpose.

An embodiment relating to the dimension of the bare region 30 relative to the dimension of the transparent part 34 in the variants in which it is desired to make the cup visible through the transparent part 34, in the low position, while concealing the actuation mechanism thereof is such that (see FIG. 3):

the bare region 30 having a height, in the main direction X, denoted h30;

the transparent part 34 having a height, in the same direction X, denoted h34;

the following ratio is observed: 0.2≦h30/h34≦0.6.

For example, the height h30 may be substantially equal to 9 mm and the height h34 may be substantially equal to 22 mm.

This means that, within the context of the example shown here, the height h32 of the opaque region 32 can be substantially equal to 13 mm.

In addition, it should be noted that the opaque region 32 of the transparent part 34 is closer to the distal end 12 of the container 10 than the bare region 30 can be. In other words, the opaque region 32 is located between the bare region 30 and the distal end 12 of the container 10.

It should also be noted that the transparent part 34 can be separate from the body 20.

Furthermore, said transparent part 34 can be part of the drive mechanism and make it possible to control the movement of the cup 40 relative to the body 20, in particular when said transparent part 34 is actuated, for example rotated relative to said body 20. Said transparent part 34 can therefore have an outer surface that is intended to be handled by the user.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment described above, the container 10 in addition being covered by an opaque cap 50. Said cap 50 conceals the product. Said cap also conceals the body 20 and a region of the transparent part 34, in particular the region 35 that keeps said cap 50 in position on the container 10 (see FIG. 1 or 2).

The cap 50 is obtained by moulding, preferably from a plastics material. The cap can be protected, or even decorated, on the outer wall thereof. For example, said cap is provided with a layer of metallic material on its outer wall, which layer can be obtained by metallising said wall. Said layer can also be a thin strip of bonded plastics material.

The aesthetics of the layer of material provided on the outer wall of said cap 50 can be matched to the aesthetics provided for the covered region 32, for example by being identical.

Furthermore, an embodiment and example of dimensions relating to the transparent part 34 and the cap 50 is such that (see FIG. 3):

the transparent part 34 having a height h34;

the cap 50 having a height, in the same direction X, denoted H50;

the following ratio is observed: 0.3≦h34/H50≦0.7.

For example, the height H50 can be substantially equal to 42 mm, and the height h34 can be substantially equal to 22 mm.

Furthermore, the outer diameter of the blind part 34 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the cap 50, for example between 18 mm and 22 mm, preferably substantially equal to 20 mm.

The invention has a particular application in the field of containers 10 for cosmetic products which do not have any indication on their outer wall regarding the product they contain. Indeed, the container 10 according to the variant mentioned above makes it possible to provide an indication of its contents simply by seeing the cup 40 through the bare region 30 of the transparent part 34. It is thus sufficient to provide an indication on the cup 40 in order to inform the user about the contents of a container 10 of this kind. The invention can be applied particularly advantageously when the cup 40 is provided in the same colour as the product that it is suitable for containing.

Furthermore, the transparent part 34 is preferably formed in one piece and obtained by moulding, preferably from a plastics material. Said transparent part is rigid, just like the body 20, the cup 40 and the cap 50, meaning that said parts cannot be deformed by pressure exerted by the user's fingers.

It should further be noted that variants are of course possible. In particular, in an additional embodiment (not shown), the cup 40 comprises two parts.

More specifically, said cup 40 can comprise a first part, referred to as the lower cup, that is designed to cooperate with the actuation mechanism, and a second part, referred to as the upper cup, that is suitable for receiving the product, the lower and upper cups being removable from one another. Thus, a user wishing to change the cosmetic product (stick used up, colour change desired) can keep the fixed assembly of “body 20, transparent part 34, lower cup and cap 50” and only change the upper cup that is suitable for receiving the product. Indeed, the new upper cup is also provided so as to indicate the product that it contains, and it is not necessary to change the container as a whole when selecting a suitable position for said transparent part 34.

In another additional embodiment (not shown), the transparent part 34 is not formed in one piece, but rather is obtained by means of bi-injection of two plastics materials, preferably of different colours, with the aim of forming the bare 30 and opaque 32 regions of said part 34.

It should be noted that the embodiments above can be combined without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the cup 40 can have a layer of metallic material on its outer wall, which layer can be obtained by metallising said wall. Said layer can also be a thin strip of bonded plastics material.

Moreover, the opaque region 32 that contributes to the overall aesthetics of the container 10 can be customised in order to comply with the standards of a brand of cosmetics, for example. 

1. Container for a cosmetic product, in particular for a stick of cosmetic product, comprising a body and a cup that is movable relative to the body, the cup being suitable for receiving the product, said container comprising a transparent part having a first bare region that makes it possible to see inside the container, and at least one second opaque region, referred to as the covered region.
 2. Container according to the claim 1, wherein the covered region is a region that has undergone surface treatment.
 3. Container according to claim 1, wherein the covered region is a region comprising a thin strip of a substantially opaque material.
 4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the transparent part is hollow, blind or a through-part, said transparent part comprising an outer wall and an inner wall.
 5. Container according to 4, wherein the covered region is located on the outer wall of said part.
 6. Container according to claim 4, wherein the covered region is located on the inner wall of said part.
 7. Container according claim 1, wherein the transparent part is formed in one piece.
 8. Container according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises said transparent part.
 9. Container according to claim 1, further comprising a cap that is designed to cover said body, leaving said transparent part visible.
 10. Container according to claim 1, wherein said transparent part it possible to see the cup in a position in which said cup is retracted inside the body.
 11. Container according claim 1, wherein the cup comprises two parts: a first part, referred to as the lower cup, that is designed to cooperate with an actuation mechanism; and a second part, referred to as the upper cup, that is suitable for receiving the product; the upper and lower cups being removable from one another, said two parts being connected and/or disconnected by means of elastic deformation of a portion of one of the two parts by the other part. 